Cards sweep Vandy

St. Mary sinks All-Saints

April 12, 2004

VANDERBILT - With the weather cooperating nicely, Vanderbilt was able to play four games in two days this week. On Wednesday, the Yellowjackets split with Atlanta in the season opener. On Thursday, Johannesburg-Lewiston came to town and Vandy dropped a pair.

"Win or lose, it's nice to get out and play this early," said veteran Vandy coach Bill Russ. "On the other hand, it's a killer to play doubleheaders two days in a row, especially on your pitchers."

ON THURSDAY, J-L won by scores of 19-6 and 15-3. The Cards hit the ball hard, which pleased longtime Hall of Fame coach Rick Guild.

"Our hitting was one of the positives," Guild said. "This is the most inexperienced teams I've had. They don't have the greatest talent, but they're great kids and they have a great attitude. They try hard. They want to do well, and they're making progress. This team's better days are definitely in the future."

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In game one, Dan Roux started and got the win, with relief help from freshman Aaron Newell, who made his first varsity appearance and handled himself well, according to Guild. In game two, Jake Reed was the victor, again with Newell pitching the final inning in relief.

At the plate, Roux and catcher Cody Proctor each banged out three hits in the opener and combined for seven RBIs. Senior second baseman Robert McLean ripped a pair of safeties and scored four times while knocking in two. Slugging first baseman Will Kinney was 2 for 4 with two RBIs and senior left fielder Jim King was 2 for 3 with an RBI.

In the nightcap, King stroked a key two-run double to help spark a 13-run uprising in the third inning. Kinney and Mike Carroll each banged out two hits.

For Vandy in the opener, Trevor Cottrell and Doug Heintz had RBI singles and Andy Holborn scored a pair of runs.

In game two, T.J. Whitman had a hit and an RBI, as did Josh Hibbler. Senior Mike Jones excited the Vandy fans with a thrilling steal of home plate.

ON WEDNESDAY, Vandy split with Atlanta, losing the opener 18-6 and coming back to post a shutout in game two, 11-0.

Jones took the loss in game one and Cottrell, pitching brilliantly, earned the shutout in the second game with a no-hitter. He struck out five.

In the nightcap, Josh Hibbler struck the big blow for the Yellowjackets, launching an outside fastball well over the fence in right-center for a grand slam. Sophomore slugger Doug Heintz was 3 for 3 with three runs scored and a pair of RBIs. Freshman first baseman Sean Webber was 3 for 3. R.J. White and Cottrell stroked long doubles.

Snowbirds sink All-Saints

BAY CITY - For the first time in SMH coach John Neph's 10-year tenure as baseball coach, the Snowbirds have beaten perennial baseball power Bay City All-Saints. On Wednesday, they went south and split a twinbill, losing 9-3 and winning 8-7.

After getting out the opening-game jitters while allowing six unearned runs in game one, St. Mary settled down and played well in the nightcap.

Senior right-hander Aaron Davis went the distance for the Snowbirds and picked up the win in dramatic fashion. After Davis closed the door on a potentially big All-Saints rally in the fifth inning with a pair of strikeouts, St. Mary still trailed by a run, 7-6.

With two out and two on in the sixth and final inning, senior catcher Nick Saum came to the plate. If he makes an out, the game is over; if he gets a hit, St. Mary wins. Saum delivered a two-run single.